©DreamWorks Animation

One of the most useful maxims in life is known by the acronym K.I.S.S. I'm sure you've heard of it. It stands for “Keep It Simple Stupid”. But simplicity is not just the key to a happy life; it's also the key to great storytelling—which only makes sense because stories are about life.

Well-written animated features, no matter how complex they may seem upon first viewing, have basic character and plot elements that are very simple. To create a simple, well-constructed story you need only answer a few questions. Let me demonstrate using Kung Fu Panda...

Every screenwriter is born with an amazing writing tool. It’s called the human mind. But if you don’t know how to use it effectively you could be wasting a lot of creative potential. I’ve found a special way to resolve creative story problems that I think you’ll find very useful...

©1999 Miramax Films

Do you write part time?  Do you write for just a few hours a day?  Are you writing a spec screenplay a few days a week or month?

If you answered any of these questions in the affirmative you may be losing more time (and creativity) than you think.

Let me give you a few suggestions that will help you get a lot more writing done...

As we face an uncertain jobs market, many of you are asking yourselves 'What does the future of animation hold for me?'  To see what lies ahead, one only need look to the past...

There are only two things you need to do to become a better writer: study and write.  The question is: are you studying and writing optimally?

I wrote screenplays for Columbia and Paramount on instinct, and wrote hundreds of animation scripts the same way.  But I’d never really “learned” how to write. I finally decided to get serious about my craft and read all the best-selling screenwriting books.  I learned quite a bit.  But one of the most important things I learned was that WHAT you read is only half of the journey.  HOW to read is the other. Learn the three R's and become a better screenwriter...

REVIEW: THE "CORE ELEMENTS METHOD"
SCREENPLAY STRUCTURE COURSE

I’ve been writing for decades and have been steeped in screenplay writing techniques from McKee, Truby, Field, Vogler and others. But I just discovered a screenplay structure course that makes it easier, faster and more enjoyable to write much better screenplays. 

Special updated offer!

What is the #1 most important ingredient of every great screenplay?

Is it great characters?

Great plot?

High Concept?

It’s none of these.  The #1 most important ingredient of every great screenplay is...

 

Theme is the most important element of any screenplay. It aligns and focuses the plot, subplots, characters and dialogue. It is the Rosetta stone which allows you to translate that great concept you have into a great screenplay. But that’s not all it does...

 

Much has been written about the subject of BE-DO-HAVE in the self-help arena. But applying it to screenwriting can be very helpful as well.